Valet parking area at Yacht Club to be relocated

June 10, 2014

A controversial trial parking plan at the Yacht Club beach park will be revamped, effective Thursday.

"Based on concerns voiced by Yacht Club visitors about the location of the valet parking, the City will be relocating the valet parking area to the overflow lot west of Driftwood Parkway," City spokesperson Connie Barron said in a prepared statement issued Tuesday afternoon. "The new valet parking location will be in effect beginning Thursday, June 12."

The valet parking plan, which allocated spaces near the new Boathouse Tiki Hut & Grill, was initiated about 18 days ago in conjunction with the opening of the restaurant to address concerns about limited parking at the Yacht Club, the release states.

The program, which instituted paid parking for the service - $3 weekends and $5 weekends - was confusing, though, to park users.

"The concept that valet parking was available only to patrons of the Boathouse was misunderstood the valet parking was for the convenience of all park users," the release states. "While the initial location appeared inappropriate to some visitors, this location actually accommodated the most cars in the most limited space and expanded the number of parking spaces available. Because of the proximity to the pier and beach area, the feedback from the community clearly did not support valet parking at this location."

As it did with the first plan, the city will continue to evaluate the new valet parking lot as well as all parking options to ensure reasonable access for all visitors to the Yacht Club area, Barron said in the release.